Genealogy Research in Portugal
Maria I, Queen of Portugal
Portugal is a great place to do research because of the wealth of historical material that can be found in the nation's many archives, libraries, and other repositories. Some of Portugal's best resources for historical research can be found at the national capital in Lisbon, as well as various provincial archives, churches, and libraries in the country. Many records are also now available online at a number of great websites like Ancestry.com, MyHeritage, and FamilySearch, all of which have large searchable databases relating to Portuguese history and genealogy. Another database you might enjoy visiting is that for the website Portugal Genealogy, where some of our ongoing research in Spain is featured.
There are a number of ways to get copies of vital records (birth, marriage, and death certificates) in Portugal. Portugal began countrywide registration of vital records in 1832, and Ancestry.com and other websites have digitized many of these records from that date up to the early 1900s. Prior to 1832, birth, marriage, and death records would have primarily been recorded by church parishes, which would have been responsible for keeping track of baptisms, marriages, and burials in different parts of the country.
The Family History Library in Salt Lake City, Utah also holds a large collection of records relating to Portuguese Genealogy. This is the largest and most important genealogy collection in the world and is worth a visit to explore the many billions of records that can be found there. Published material consists of books, microfilm, microfiche, and other records for all parts of Portugal. The Family History Library also has smaller family history centers located throughout the world where you can order microfilm and have these records shipped to the local area where you live. The library has also transcribed and indexed billions of Portuguese church records, civil registration, and other types of records which are available to view or download online at FamilySearch.
There are a number of ways to get copies of vital records (birth, marriage, and death certificates) in Portugal. Portugal began countrywide registration of vital records in 1832, and Ancestry.com and other websites have digitized many of these records from that date up to the early 1900s. Prior to 1832, birth, marriage, and death records would have primarily been recorded by church parishes, which would have been responsible for keeping track of baptisms, marriages, and burials in different parts of the country.
The Family History Library in Salt Lake City, Utah also holds a large collection of records relating to Portuguese Genealogy. This is the largest and most important genealogy collection in the world and is worth a visit to explore the many billions of records that can be found there. Published material consists of books, microfilm, microfiche, and other records for all parts of Portugal. The Family History Library also has smaller family history centers located throughout the world where you can order microfilm and have these records shipped to the local area where you live. The library has also transcribed and indexed billions of Portuguese church records, civil registration, and other types of records which are available to view or download online at FamilySearch.
About Our Portuguese Research Team
Portugal Coat of Arms
Our team of expert genealogists is ready to assist you with your research in Portugal. Our Portuguese research team consists of professional researchers who live and work throughout the country. We also have a great team of researchers in place in the USA who are able to consult the millions of records available on your Portuguese ancestors at places like the Family History Library in Salt Lake City, the New York Public Library, the National Archives and Records Administration (NARA), and elsewhere.
Research can be carried out for you in all districts of Portugal including:
Aveiro, Beja, Braga, Bragança, Castelo Branco, Coimbra, Évora, Faro, Guarda, Leiria, Lisbon, Portalegre, Porto, Santarém, Setúbal, Viana do Castelo, Vila Real, Viseu
Most of our genealogists are bilingual and speak and write fluent Portuguese and English. A number of our researchers are also certified genealogists or have advanced degrees in history and related fields. Our Portuguese research team is made up of genealogists who live and work throughout the country. Our collective expertise in Portuguese genealogical research can be a great asset to you as you piece together your family tree in Portugal. Whether your research takes you to Lisbon, the Algarve, or the Azores, our genealogists are ready to assist you with this exciting research.
Research can be carried out for you in all districts of Portugal including:
Aveiro, Beja, Braga, Bragança, Castelo Branco, Coimbra, Évora, Faro, Guarda, Leiria, Lisbon, Portalegre, Porto, Santarém, Setúbal, Viana do Castelo, Vila Real, Viseu
Most of our genealogists are bilingual and speak and write fluent Portuguese and English. A number of our researchers are also certified genealogists or have advanced degrees in history and related fields. Our Portuguese research team is made up of genealogists who live and work throughout the country. Our collective expertise in Portuguese genealogical research can be a great asset to you as you piece together your family tree in Portugal. Whether your research takes you to Lisbon, the Algarve, or the Azores, our genealogists are ready to assist you with this exciting research.
Locating Records relating to Your Portuguese Ancestry
Henry, Count of Portugal, 13th century
Many people are unaware that many important records which are crucial to their family tree search cannot be found online. Many Portuguese records, for example, are only available to researchers who are physically able to visit repositories at the local level in Portugal or the Family History Library in Utah. Our genealogy researchers have access to all of these records and are ready to assist you with your genealogy search in Portugal. So, if you have limited your past research to exhaustive internet searches on online databases and web sites, you may have reached a brick wall because you're missing out on the literal gold mine of records available to our genealogists on microfilm, in books, and in other published material. Many Portuguese records related to your ancestry search, important records like church parish registers, civil registration, military records, family wills and other types records, are generally not available online and can only be obtained by visiting your ancestor's town of origin in Portugal, or by consulting microfilmed records available at the Family History Library in Utah.
Portugal has experienced large waves of out-migration from the country from the 1800s up to the present day. Many Portuguese immigrants in various parts of North America like Massachusetts, California and Canada where economic opportunities were much more promising than in the old country. If your ancestors were part of this diaspora, many records helpful to building your family tree in Portugal would probably first be uncovered in
the places where your ancestors immigrated. To find records relating to your family in Portugal, we must first know exactly where your Portuguese ancestors lived in the past. This information can sometimes be found in obituaries, church records, ships' passenger lists, naturalization records and death certificates.
Many important records relating to Portuguese family history are held locally at church archives and regional archives. The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints has also visited civil registration offices and churches throughout Portugal and microfilmed many records relevant to Portuguese family history. Civil registration refers to official government records. These records are sometimes available from the early 1800s up to the present day and hold a wealth of information. It is also sometimes possible to get a family tree traced back to the 1600s and 1700s using church parish registers.
The records collection of the Family History Library in Salt Lake City is the single most important resource for family tree research since it consists of literally billions of genealogy records from all parts of the globe making it the largest and most important collection of genealogical information available in the world. Included in the Family History Library's collections are literally millions of genealogical records related to Portugal which can be a great help to your ancestry search. Click here to read what our clients are saying about our genealogists and our unique family tree research services.
Portugal has experienced large waves of out-migration from the country from the 1800s up to the present day. Many Portuguese immigrants in various parts of North America like Massachusetts, California and Canada where economic opportunities were much more promising than in the old country. If your ancestors were part of this diaspora, many records helpful to building your family tree in Portugal would probably first be uncovered in
the places where your ancestors immigrated. To find records relating to your family in Portugal, we must first know exactly where your Portuguese ancestors lived in the past. This information can sometimes be found in obituaries, church records, ships' passenger lists, naturalization records and death certificates.
Many important records relating to Portuguese family history are held locally at church archives and regional archives. The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints has also visited civil registration offices and churches throughout Portugal and microfilmed many records relevant to Portuguese family history. Civil registration refers to official government records. These records are sometimes available from the early 1800s up to the present day and hold a wealth of information. It is also sometimes possible to get a family tree traced back to the 1600s and 1700s using church parish registers.
The records collection of the Family History Library in Salt Lake City is the single most important resource for family tree research since it consists of literally billions of genealogy records from all parts of the globe making it the largest and most important collection of genealogical information available in the world. Included in the Family History Library's collections are literally millions of genealogical records related to Portugal which can be a great help to your ancestry search. Click here to read what our clients are saying about our genealogists and our unique family tree research services.
Genealogy Research Consultation
National flag of Portugal
Are you ready to speak to a professional genealogist about your family history project? Whether you are looking for hard to find family records, living relatives, or would like to put together a family tree that your family will cherish for many generations to come, MyGenealogist.com is ready to assist you with all of your genealogy research needs!
Speak to a genealogist today to learn how we can be of help to you in your Portuguese genealogy quest. We'll answer your questions before you begin your ancestry research project. To learn more about our projects and pricing please click here. If you are ready to begin this exciting research, please provide us with some information as listed in the box below to help us get started on your case. Please send the information above to helpdesk@mygenealogist.com.
Speak to a genealogist today to learn how we can be of help to you in your Portuguese genealogy quest. We'll answer your questions before you begin your ancestry research project. To learn more about our projects and pricing please click here. If you are ready to begin this exciting research, please provide us with some information as listed in the box below to help us get started on your case. Please send the information above to helpdesk@mygenealogist.com.